Children out of school, primary in Jamaica

Jamaica: Children out of school, primary was 9,419 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
9,419
Change on year
down 65.9%
World rank
111th
of 197 countries
All-time high
47,215
in 2003
All-time low
2,657
in 1975
Years of data
35
1975–2024

Children out of school, primary in Jamaica, 1975–2024

010.0k20.0k30.0k40.0k50.0k1975199920241975: 2.7k1976: 7.3k1977: 8.9k1979: 2.9k1980: 5.1k1981: 7.3k1983: 4.9k1984: 10.9k1985: 15.9k1986: 17.3k1987: 14.0k1988: 25.3k1989: 13.8k1990: 15.1k1991: 18.9k1993: 29.8k1999: 41.7k2000: 38.8k2001: 39.9k2002: 44.1k2003: 47.2k2004: 35.9k2005: 35.3k2013: 25.2k2014: 30.3k2015: 29.2k2016: 30.2k2017: 27.8k2018: 26.7k2019: 23.0k2020: 30.4k2021: 35.3k2022: 15.4k2023: 27.6k2024: 9.4k

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Analysis

The most recent figure for children out of school, primary in Jamaica is 9,419, measured in 2024.

That represents a change of down 65.9% on the previous year and down 68.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, children out of school, primary in Jamaica peaked at 47,215 in 2003 and was at its lowest, 2,657, in 1975.

Jamaica ranks 111th of 197 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Children out of school, primary in Jamaica, year by year

Annual values for Children out of school, primary in Jamaica, 1975 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1975 2,657
1976 7,348 +176.6%
1977 8,865 +20.6%
1979 2,942 -66.8%
1980 5,110 +73.7%
1981 7,349 +43.8%
1983 4,882 -33.6%
1984 10,898 +123.2%
1985 15,878 +45.7%
1986 17,330 +9.1%
1987 13,953 -19.5%
1988 25,329 +81.5%
1989 13,758 -45.7%
1990 15,073 +9.6%
1991 18,871 +25.2%
1993 29,781 +57.8%
1999 41,735 +40.1%
2000 38,811 -7.0%
2001 39,941 +2.9%
2002 44,134 +10.5%
2003 47,215 +7.0%
2004 35,931 -23.9%
2005 35,282 -1.8%
2013 25,218 -28.5%
2014 30,276 +20.1%
2015 29,167 -3.7%
2016 30,166 +3.4%
2017 27,831 -7.7%
2018 26,687 -4.1%
2019 22,970 -13.9%
2020 30,434 +32.5%
2021 35,301 +16.0%
2022 15,425 -56.3%
2023 27,604 +79.0%
2024 9,419 -65.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 5,453 2,657 8,865 4
1980s 12,721 4,882 25,329 9
1990s 26,365 15,073 41,735 4
2000s 40,219 35,282 47,215 6
2010s 27,474 22,970 30,276 7
2020s 23,637 9,419 35,301 5

Countries ranked near Jamaica

  1. 108 Hungary 10,500 compare
  2. 109 New Zealand 10,396 compare
  3. 110 Ireland 10,313 compare
  4. 112 Togo 9,263 compare
  5. 113 Trinidad and Tobago 9,223 compare
  6. 114 Iran, Islamic Republic of 9,163 compare

See the full ranking of 202 places →

More education data for Jamaica

All data for Jamaica →

Frequently asked questions

What is children out of school, primary in Jamaica?
Children out of school, primary in Jamaica was 9,419 in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest children out of school, primary recorded in Jamaica?
The highest recorded value was 47,215 in 2003.
What is the lowest children out of school, primary recorded in Jamaica?
The lowest recorded value was 2,657 in 1975.
How does Jamaica rank for children out of school, primary?
Jamaica ranks 111th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
Is children out of school, primary rising or falling in Jamaica?
Over the last ten years it is down 68.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Jamaica data come from?
The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Children out of school, primary. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Children out of school, primary in Jamaica. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/children-out-of-school-primary/jamaica/

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About this data

Indicator
Children out of school, primary
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
202 places, 4,752 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Children out of school are the number of primary-school-age children not enrolled in primary or secondary school.